Central Park is at the top of every New York tourist’s list, and probably closely followed by other iconic parks like Washington Square and the Chelsea Highline. Yet, there are so many other amazing green spaces that either provide respite from the city or boast fantastic views of it. Here are 5 of my favorites:
Domino Park
This 6-acre Brooklyn park is just across the East River and boasts fantastic views of the Williamsburg Bridge and Manhattan skyline. Named for the old Domino sugar refinery that is still onsite, it is now a neighborhood gathering place, with a dog park, sand volleyball courts, and onsite taqueria. Follow the park’s event itinerary on instagram.
Pier 57 Rooftop Park
This is a new 2-acre public park on top of the Hudson River Pier with fantastic views of Little Island (one of NYC’s coolest parks) and New York Harbor. You can pack your own picnic and drink of choice to enjoy from the top, stop off at the nearby City Winery after taking in the views.
Louis Valentino, Jr. Park and Pier
This park is a bit of a haul from Manhattan, but a trip on the ferry to the Red Hook fishing village turned hipster community is always worth it in my book. Go on a clear day to watch a fiery sunset behind the Statue of Liberty while licking a frozen chocolate dipped key lime pie from Steve’s and you will feel like you’ve truly made it to the tip of the city.
Fort Washington Park
The further north you travel from Central Park, the more green space you will uncover, and this huge park is largely responsible for it. Fort Washington Park runs along the Hudson most known for its views of the George Washington Bridge, the Little Red Lighthouse, and proximity to the Washington Heights neighborhood, made famous by Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical. If you make it up, do not leave without eating Dominican or Caribbean food along Broadway.
WNYC Transmitter Park
As the name indicates, this Greenpoint park space used to house WNYC’s radio transmission towers and I love it with all my heart. Like so much that I almost don’t want to share it with you, but what kind of travel blogger would that make me? This is my favorite place in Brooklyn to watch a sunset, as a pedestrian bridge that juts out into the East river makes it feel as if you could just keep walking across the water to the Empire State Building. If you want to do it like the locals, grab a slice from Paulie Gee’s on your way.
